Whatstrikesonefirstinabird’s-eyeviewofBeijingproperisavasttractofgoldenroofsflashingbrilliantlyinthesunwithpurplewallsoccasionallyemergingamidthemandastretchofluxurianttreeleavesflankingoneachside.ThatistheformerImperialPalace，popularlyknownastheForbiddenCity，fromwhichtwenty-fouremperorsoftheMingandQingDynastiesruledChinaforsome500years——from1420to1911.TheMingEmperorYongLe，whousurpedthethronefromhisnephewandmadeBeijingthecapital，ordereditsconstruction，onwhichapproximately10，000artistsandamillionworkmentoiledfor14yearsfrom1406to1420.Atpresent，thePalaceisanelaboratemuseumthatpresentsthelargestandmostcompleteensembleoftraditionalarchitecturecomplexandmorethan900，000piecesofcourttreasuresinalldynastiesinChina.
LocatedinthecenterofBeijing，theentirepalacearea，rectangularinshapeand72hectaresinsize，issurroundedbywallstenmetershighandamoat52meterswide.Ateachcornerofthewallstandsawatchtowerwithadouble-eaveroofcoveredwithyellowglazedtiles.
